Statement
Gates Foundation pulls funding from Canadian
government development agency over concerns about
conflict of interest
Ottawa - April 12,
2010
Statement by Physicians for a
Smoke-Free Canada
We note with regret that the
government of Canada's failure to respond to concerns
raised about the appointment of the Honourable Barbara
McDougall to chair the IDRC while she concurrently sat
on the Board of Directors of Imperial Tobacco has
compromised Canada’s ability to support developing
countries in reducing tobacco use.
In early March, it was revealed
that after Ms. McDougall was appointed to chair the IDRC
in December 2007, she continued to work as a director of
Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd, a wholly–owned subsidiary
of one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, British
American Tobacco.
This cross appointment is
not only inconsistent with the government's “Ethical
Guidelines for Public Office Holders,” it is also
against the guidelines agreed to by Canada for
implementing the global tobacco treaty, the “Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control.”
In the month since the matter was
brought to the attention of the Prime Minister, Health
Canada and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
government has failed to reply or respond to concerns of
international and Canadian health agencies.
In light of the government’s failure
to resolve the problem consistent with both the Canadian
government Ethical Guidelines and the FCTC guidelines on
tobacco interference with health issues, it is
understandable that the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation has decided to terminate funding for tobacco
control projects run by the IDRC.
This weekend, the Gates Foundation
issued the following statement to its African tobacco
control partners: "The foundation was recently informed
that the chair of the board of our partner, the
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has
until recently also been a Director of Imperial Tobacco
Canada, Ltd.
We are deeply disappointed
by this revelation and feel this conflict is
unacceptable as we work to support meaningful tobacco
control programs in Africa.
Therefore, we are
terminating our tobacco control grant to IDRC, effective
immediately. "
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada
urges the Canadian government to act quickly to put
measures in place to ensure that Canada can fulfill its
obligations under this important health treaty.
Attachments:
Letter from international and
Canadian health advocates to Prime Minister Harper :
(March 15, 2010)
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